Drawing Through the Pandemic: Diego
At Young Rembrandts we’ve been interviewing kids that have been drawing with us this past year. For some kids, drawing was a way to continue the classes they were used to at school. For others, it was a way to keep their minds off the stress they were feeling around them. Maybe even a way to feel normal when normal was hard to find.
Diego is an 11 year-old from California, who has always loved drawing. Mom and dad have always been intentional about developing Diego’s creative side, whether it’s playing an instrument, dancing, drawing or doing crafts. Once the pandemic hit, like the rest of us, they scrambled to adjust. They knew how much art meant to Diego, so they looked for ways to keep Diego busy creatively and remembered Young Rembrandts from a program, their elementary school offered the year before. They went online and purchased some Young Rembrandts On-Demand lessons and Diego hasn’t stopped drawing since.
Every week, mom, dad and Diego drew one of the lessons together, amassing an impressive art collection to be displayed on their ‘Art Wall’. Mom said: “Drawing every week definitely helped Diego improve his drawing skills and it also helped keep his mind off the pandemic and all the conflicts happening around us.”
I’m impressed at how articulate Diego is about his art and how it makes him feel. He’s been drawing with us for six years now and has done a lot of drawings. We got to see several of his favorite Young Rembrandts’ drawings, along with his own original works. All meticulously done. This kid has some serious technique! When he does art, he said he feels ‘joyful’ and always has a good time. He said, he’s had his struggles and successes, thinking he could do it on his own. His advice now; “Don’t be shy asking for help.”
Sadly, Diego’s dad passed away this past year and as hard as it is for them, he and mom are hanging in there, together. Drawing and coloring. Art has a way of filling spaces in us we didn’t know needed filling. It’s also a way to express things we don’t have words for. I’m glad Diego has his art.
Don’t have a class near you? Check out YoungRembrandts+ for On Demand lessons, coloring pages and more!
